1993 Plymouth Grand Voyager Problems

What owners report

Complaints on this model year center on the antilock brake system, which owners describe failing intermittently and often recurring even after recall repairs, along with transmission problems and doors or liftgate hardware that come loose. Sample mileage is high and widely spread, with the brake and body complaints filed from the late 1990s through the mid-2010s, so many of these are long-term wear and aging issues on a vehicle now well past 100,000 miles.

1. 1
   Brakes

   ABS pump failure and hard or low brake pedal

   • 59 complaints (23%)
   • median 120,000 mi at 13.4 yrs old (11 state mileage)
   • 4 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 1996–2018

   Owners describe the ABS warning light coming on, then a brake pedal that is hard, mushy, or travels to the floor, with stopping distances getting longer. Several complaints say the ABS pump or accumulator motor failed, sometimes more than once, and that the vehicle had already been repaired under the ABS recall before the symptom returned. Dealers are reported to have diagnosed pump/motor or pressure switch failures, and some owners say their vehicle identification number was not included in the recall. Reported from the late 1990s through the mid-2010s, typically between roughly 75,000 and 180,000 miles, often with repeated failures on the same vehicle.

   Recall 96V099000

   What to check: Ask whether the ABS pump and accumulator were replaced and when, and whether recall 96V099000 work was done on this specific vehicle. On a test drive, watch for an ABS light that stays on and check that the pedal feels firm and does not sink.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I have a 1993 Plymouth Grand Voyager. The ABS pump and motor were replaced (under warranty) with a re-manufactured unit on 11/05/01 when the vehicle mileage was 104,691. The pump just failed again, and was replaced with another re-manufactured unit. The vehicle mileage is now 115,381. I am concerned that chrysler is install poor quality repair parts under the warranty.”

   NHTSA complaint #10047240, filed 2003-11, 115,381 miles

   “My ABS light came on when driving, within seconds, I had absolutely no brakes. The dealer fixed at no charge, although I had to pay for towing. Today has been 2 weeks since I've had the vehicle repaired. As I was traveling down the freeway with my 4 children, the ABS light came on again, and the brakes were gone again. When I purchased this vehicle in 1999, the ABS system was replaced on 3 seperate occasions for the exact same reason. Each time with the guarantee that it was fixed. What will it take to have this issue resolved? …”

   NHTSA complaint #10070696, filed 2004-01, 175,000 miles
2. 2
   Transmission and drivetrain

   Transmission slipping, hard shifts, and rebuilds

   • 32 complaints (13%)
   • median 133,500 mi at 10.5 yrs old (3 state mileage, few)
   • 2 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $1,200 (median of 5 quotes)
   • filed 1996–2018

   Complaints describe the transmission slipping out of gear, failing to upshift, staying in second gear, or shifting harshly at low speed, sometimes with a high-pitched noise under acceleration. Some owners report losing reverse or drive entirely with little warning, and several say the unit was rebuilt or replaced more than once. Owners also describe shops and dealers not reproducing or resolving the shifting complaint. Filed between the mid-1990s and mid-2000s, with failures reported from under 30,000 miles up to about 180,000 miles; several vans had repeat rebuilds.

   What to check: Check transmission fluid condition and ask for receipts of any rebuild or replacement, including mileage. Drive the van through several up- and downshifts, including a short highway run, and confirm reverse engages promptly.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “4th 1993 Plymouth Grand Voyager se transmission. No warning before complete transmission failure. Has 1st gear to about 15 MPH and then slips out of gear. No reverse no nothing. Van is sitting in my garage while I decide what to do with this giant boat anchor.”

   NHTSA complaint #10149689, filed 2006-02, 170,000 miles

   “This is the 4th time my van has been in,I was almost killed by an 18 wheeler this time on I 85, there are 8 other transmissions in the shop this time just like mine and there were 12 in there last time, 6 the second time,9 the first time, and beleive us this problem will get you killed, we (3) of us have talked to lawyers.”

   NHTSA complaint #739813, filed 2001-01
3. 3
   Body and structure

   Doors and liftgate hinges cracking or coming loose

   • 25 complaints (10%)
   • median 142,000 mi at 10.5 yrs old (3 state mileage, few)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 1996–2008

   Owners report front doors sagging or swinging open because hinge welds or spot welds failed, and sliding doors coming off the track or opening even when locked. Liftgate complaints describe the gas strut bolt breaking or the liftgate closing on its own. Some dealers reportedly attributed hinge cracking to children hanging on doors, while other owners were told the part or repair was not covered. Reported mostly from the mid-1990s through 2008, with mileage ranging from undocumented to about 165,000 miles.

   Recall 99V213000

   What to check: Open and close each door and the liftgate several times, watching for sag, misalignment, or popping around the hinges, and check the strut mounting bolts for looseness or cracks. Ask whether any hinge or liftgate hardware has been replaced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “When we went to lift the tail gate to remove my daughter's friend's bike, we encountered resistance. We discovered that the upper bolt that attaches the strut to the lift gate had broken in two. When we attempted to get a replacement part, we started to hear stories about this failure. The dealership's service department was closed (saturday) and we left for a camping trip on monday, returning today. When I called the dealership, they acknowledged a recall on another years model, but were unhelpful with my problem. …”

   NHTSA complaint #540179, filed 1998-08

   “The sliding door opened, even if the door was locked. The passenger sliding door will not stay on track. The consumer was told that the door needed a new latch. Scc”

   NHTSA complaint #10011099, filed 2003-03, 165,000 miles
4. 4
   Seat belts

   Seat belt buckles and anchors releasing

   • 26 complaints (10%)
   • median 151,000 mi at 12.7 yrs old (2 state mileage, few)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 1996–2008

   Complaints describe buckle releases that come unfastened while driving, anchor hooks that detach from the floor, and belts that will not retract or release. Several owners note that a recall covered this problem but say their vehicle was not included by identification number. Dealers are described as either unfamiliar with the issue or charging for replacement. Mostly filed between 1996 and 2008; mileage is largely undocumented, with one report at about 160,000 miles.

   Recall 97V148000Recall 97V149000

   What to check: Latch and release every belt, including the center rear, and tug each buckle and anchor point to confirm it holds. Ask whether the belt buckle and rear anchor recalls were performed on this vehicle.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Seat belt on both sides in front hangs up: the retractor won't work. I am scared to hell. Dealer said buy new one. I had a repair shop service it: same problem again. I had another Plymouth dealer work with the belt and he got it to release, but problem reoccurred.”

   NHTSA complaint #722432, filed 2000-05

   “The drivers side seat belt buckle became unfastened while driving. There was a recall for this problem ( recall no.#97v148000 seat belt system ) but the vehicle identification number was not apart of the recall. The manufacturer was aware of the problem.”

   NHTSA complaint #10055749, filed 2004-06, 160,000 miles
5. 5
   Fuel system

   Fuel smell and leaks at the fuel rails

   • 11 complaints (4%)
   • median 115,000 mi at 10.3 yrs old (1 states mileage, few)
   • filed 1996–2018

   Owners describe smelling gasoline while driving and finding fuel spraying or leaking in the engine area, which some mechanics traced to the fuel rails. Others report corroded fuel line fittings leaking and requiring replacement. One owner tied repeated engine shutdowns at highway speed to fuel behavior in hot weather. Reported between 1998 and 2003, typically around 110,000 to 120,000 miles in the reports that list mileage.

   What to check: With the engine cool, look for damp or stained areas around the fuel rails, injectors, and line fittings, and check for a fuel smell after a drive. Ask whether the fuel rails or lines have been replaced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “The consumer smelled gas while driving. The consumer stopped the car, popped the hood and saw gas spraying all over the engine. The mechanic said the fuel rails were leaking.”

   NHTSA complaint #10020097, filed 2003-06, 115,000 miles

   “The fittings on the fuel lines corroded allowing the the vehicle to leak. Dealer has not seen vehicle. Owner replaced the fittings to correct failure.”

   NHTSA complaint #854068, filed 2000-01

Buying note. On a vehicle this old, the brake and transmission histories matter most: ask for records of ABS pump and transmission work and confirm the ABS and seat belt recalls were completed for the specific vehicle, then verify the pedal feel, shifting, door hinges, and belt latches yourself on a test drive.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 60 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.